Saturday, December 31, 2016

The medieval bishop was
a great land owner as much as a great spiritual leader. These bishops had
landed estates and house property across their dioceses where they collected
rent and sold farm produce. The property of the bishop was known as the temporalities
and this article sets out to discover the value of these temporalities.

Introduction

When a vacancy occurred
in a bishopric, by death, resignation or transfer to another diocese, the
chapter had to inform the King and obtain a licence to elect a new bishop. During
the vacancy the King would take custody of the temporalities until a new bishop
was elected.[1]
Sometimes the King would delay issuing a licence and so retain the
temporalities in the King’s hand. After his election, the bishop-elect must obtain
royal approval and take an oath of fealty before recovering the temporalities
from the escheator.[2]
In the battle between the King and the Pope for control of the medieval church,
the new bishop-elect often had to renounce the papal grant of the temporalities
and assert that he only wish to have these by gift of the King. Examples of
such renunciation occur with the Archbishop of Armagh in 1312, 1323 and 1383;
the Archbishop of Dublin in 1379; the Bishop of Meath in 1380 and 1401; and the
Bishop of Achonry in 1374.[3]

Yet the influence and
power of the English King never extended across the whole of Ireland. For most
of the medieval period that power only covered the Archdioceses of Cashel and
Dublin with the diocese of Meath in the province of Armagh.[4] In
a study of the value of Irish medieval bishoprics, the student is restricted on
the amount of information available because the King’s writ did not extend
across the whole country and so the surviving documents have a restricted
geographical reach.

A further restriction
occurs even within this area of English influence. The escheator, who managed
the temporalities while in the King’s hand, in many cases did not gain full
control of the temporalities.[5] This,
along with gaps in the Pipe Rolls and the absence of manuscripts composed by
each bishop as to the size and value of their property, makes the results
printed below incomplete and possibly will never be fully completed. Yet
further research and study of each individual bishopric is possible and could
reveal interesting information.

Achonry
bishopric

The bishopric of
Achonry was in the King’s hand from 19th March 1312 due to the death
of Benedict Obragan, late bishop, until 1st August 1312 when they
were delivered to David de Kytheny, bishop-elect. In that time, the escheator
collected £4 8s 2d in rent receipts from the demesne lands on the manors of
Athecony, Killnfyni, Kilmctaig, Killydan and Sleftyng in Connacht. From this
amount the escheator had to deduct 15d because the gale day of Nicholas Ogallan
and Thomas McCauul did not fall within the period of account. Other sources of
revenue generated £16 2s 4d of income.[6]

Paul MacCotter recently published a study on the Diocese of Achonry, entitled 'Diocese of Achonry: church, land and history', in Peritia: Journal of the Medieval Academy of Ireland, Volume 24-25, 2013-4 (Medieval Academy of Ireland, 2013-4), pages 241-265.See the article online at = https://www.academia.edu/21545183/Diocese_of_Achonry_Church_Land_and_HistoryAnnaghdown
bishopric

In 1252, following
representation by the Archbishop of Tuam, King Henry III granted that the
church of Annaghdown be reduced to a parish church and its lands and rents
assigned to the Archbishop of Tuam.[7]

After the death of
Thomas Omayl, late Bishop of Annaghdown, the temporalities were taken into the
King’s hand. From the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist 1330 until
5th March 1335 the receipts of the rents and issues amounted to £37
7s. After that time no income was received by the escheator due to the war
between the English and the Irish and no official would venture into the
diocese.[8]

In about 1317 the
escheator collected £5 in rent of a carucate of land at Taghmoun belonging to
the Bishopric of Ardagh and a plot of land at Rathescope, Co. Meath. These were
in the King’s hands on the death of Matthew, the late bishop. The escheator got
nothing for the other lands of the bishopric because they were situated among
the Irish and no Englishman would dare go there.[9]

In the period 2nd
December 1331 until 5th March 1335 the escheator collected £7 10s
from the rent and issues of a carucate of land at Taghmon in Co. Westmeath and
a small portion of land at Rathescop in Co. Meth. This property was part of the
temporalities of Ardagh held by the King since the death of Matthew, late
Bishop of Ardagh. The yearly income from the land was £2 10s.[10]

Ardfert
bishopric

In the papal taxation
of 1302-6 the revenues of the Bishop of Ardfert were worth £49 13s 4d. This
amount was divided into the procurations (£10), the jurisdiction of the Bishop
(£7 13s 4d) and the revenue of the Bishop (£32).[11]

In the period 2nd
December 1331 to 5th March 1335 the escheator collected £2 in
receipts from 40 acres of land at Kilcomyn, Co. Kerry, which was in the King’s
hand because Nicholas, Bishop of Ardfert, had alienated the property to
Alexander son of Richard without obtaining a royal licence. 13s 4d was the
yearly income.[12]

From 4th to
28th May 1336 the escheator accounted for 10d from the courts and
extern hundreds of the manors of Ardfert, Rathodony and Killayne. These manors
were part of the temporalities of Ardfert which were in the King’s hands since
the death of Nicholas, late Bishop of Ardfert, until delivered to Maurice
Fitzthomas, Earl of Desmond.[13]

Armagh
Archbishopric

The seven registers of
the Archbishops of Armagh provided a rich and varied source of material
relating to the Archbishop and the archdiocese. The registers contain such
information as appointment to parishes, matrimonial issues, letters from Rome
and the Dublin government and results of the archiepiscopal courts. Some of the
entries in these registers relate to deeds of property and rentals. To date
four of the registers have been published = W.G.H. Quigley & E.F.D. Roberts
(eds.), Registrum Johannis Mey: the
register of John Mey, archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456 (H.M.S.O. Belfast,
1972); Brendan Smith (ed.), The register
of Milo Sweteman, archbishop of Armagh, 1361-80 (I.M.C. Dublin, 1996);
Mario Alberto Sughi (ed.), Registrum
Octaviani alias Liber Niger: the register of Octavian de Palatio, archbishop of
Armagh, 1478-1513 (I.M.C. Dublin, 2000) and Brendan Smith (ed.), The register of Nicholas Fleming, archbishop
of Armagh, 1404-1416 (I.M.C. Dublin, 2003).[14]

In August 1207 Benedict
the monk and Brother Gerald of Mellifont came to King John with 300 marks of
silver and 3 marks of gold on behalf of the Archbishop of Armagh. This payment
was to allow the Archbishop to have all the lands and liberties belonging to
the see before the time of Hamo de Valoignes, former justiciar of Ireland. King
John commanded the justiciar to establish title to these lands with discretion
as to the King’s advantage.[15]

On the death of
Patrick, Archbishop of Armagh, the temporalities were taken into the King’s
hand and set to farm from the feast of St. Martin until delivered to Nicholas,
Archbishop-elect, on the vigil of SS Simon and Jude 1272. £93 7s 10¾d was
raised in that time from the demesne lands of Termonfeckin and the lands of
Kilmon and other places. During that time the escheator appointed bailiffs to
the archbishopric manors of Termonfeckin, Armagh and Kilmon.[16]

In the 1270s the
Archbishop of Armagh, Nicholas Mac Maol Iosa tried to claim that he had special
provision to have control of the temporalities of is suffragan bishoprics
during a vacancy. In 1279 the Government adjudged that the Archbishop had no
such special rights. The government did for a time gain control of the
temporalities of Derry but the Dioceses of Clogher, Dromore, Kilmore and Raphoe
were beyond its reach.[17]

On the death of
Nicholas, Archbishop of Armagh, the temporalities were taken into the King’s
hands from the feast of St. Peter ad Vincula (1st August) 1307 until
3rd November 1307 when they were delivered to Walter Jorz,
archbishop-elect. In that time £268 18s 1¼d was gathered in receipts. This income
came from the £103 13s ¾d of rents from the demesnes and meadows on the manors
of Termonfeckin, Drumeskin, Nerny, Ruschat, Kilmore, Nobber and Newtown.[18]

From Tuesday after
octave of St. Hilary 1308 to the morrow of St. Hilary 1310 the escheator
accounted for £8 16s 3½d in rent from two parts of Dromeskyn which John Moure
held of the Archbishop of Armagh. This income was received by the escheator as
due from a custody within a custody as the Archbishopric was vacant. In the
period from 12th September to 14th November 1310 the
escheator collected £2 4s 1d for the rent of two parts of the lands of John
Moure when such lands were delivered to his son and heir, John Moure junior.[19] Between
14th May 1317 and the Monday after the feast of St. Lawrence the
escheator collected 8s 8¼d from the Moure estate when the property was given to
the Archbishop of Dublin to settle a bill of 200 marks. The King could do that
because the Archbishopric of Armagh was in the King’s hand at the time.[20]

Also at Drumeskin, from
Tuesday after octave of St. Hilary 1308 to the morrow of St. Hilary 1310, the
escheator collected £2 0s 6d from the rents and premises of William Hendi. From
12th September to 7th December 1310 the escheator
collected 10s 1½d from the Hendi messuage and land.[21]
By 22nd July 1318 the Hendi property was delivered to Henry son of
William Hendi.[22]

At the same time the
escheator collected 5s 8¼d from the estate of John Purchaz at Termonfeckin as
due from a custody within a custody and £1 1s 8d from the estate of Walter de
la More at the same place for the same reason. A further 4s 4d was collected
from the More estate in the period from 12th September to 7th
December 1310.[23]

In the two years ending
on 8th December 1312 the land of William Hendy at Drumeskin earned
revenues of £2 0s 6d for the escheator. In the same time the lands of Walter de
la More at Termonfeckin brought in 17s 4d.[24]

The temporalities of
the archbishopric of Armagh came into the King’s hand from 16th
November 1311 on the resignation of Walter Jorz as Archbishop. They were held
by the crown until 20th December 1312 when they were delivered to
Roland Jorz, archbishop-elect. In that time £66 8s 5½d was gathered in rent
receipts from the demesne lands, meadows, etc., on the manors of Termonfeckin,
Dromeskin, Insken, Nobber, Kilmore, Nerny and Ruscauth. Oher sources of income
brought in £132 16s 9d of receipts.[25]

In the two years up to
8th December 1312 the escheator collected a number of receipts from
land formerly part of the archbishopric of Armagh but which was aliened by
Archbishop Nicholas without the King’s licence. At Mayn in Uriel the escheator
got £6 for the rent of one carucate of land; at Monsterrod he got £1 2s 6d in
rent for 30 acres of land and £3 in rent for 80 acres in the same place and £2
in rent for a further 80 acres in the same place. At Drumeskin in Uriel the
escheator collected £4 10s for the rent on one carucate of land and another £7
10s on a further one carucate. At Newtown and Secone the escheator collected
11s 6d in rent from a messuage and 10 acres that was similarly alienated by the
Archbishop.[26]

At Drumeskin the
escheator gathered another £1 10s in rent for 19 acres and £3 rent on a
messuage and 40 acres. At the same place he collected 1s 6d for one messuage and
another £1 7s 6d rent on a messuage and 22 acres with a further 2s 3d in rent
for one carucate of land. At Iuermongan the escheator collected £6 in rent for
one carucate and 80 acres of land and at the same place 11s 6d for a messuage
and 26 acres of land. At Termonfeckin the escheator got £1 1s for 34 acres of
lands which was similarly aliened without licence.[27]

Armagh cathedral

In the period from 8th
December 1312 to 1st September 1313 the escheator collected as
number of rents in various places that were alienated by the Archbishop of
Armagh. Some of these rents included 40s for one carucate of land at Mayn in
Uriel; 7s 6d for 30 acres at Mensterbod with 20s for 80 acres and 13s 4d for
another 80 acres in the same place; at Drumeskin the escheator collected 30s
rent for one carucate and 50s for another carucate along with 10s for 19 acres,
9d for one acre and 6d for a messuage; at Coluerstown the escheator got 30s
rent for one carucate and at Ivormongan he got 40s rent for one carucate and 4
acres of land.[28]

Additional income was
received from these places by the escheator in the period 1st
September 1313 until a month after Easter 1315.[29]
Many of the same alienated lands were still in the hands of the crown in the
period from 28th June 1316 to 14th May 1317 and onwards until
the Monday after the feast of St. Lawrence 1320. The escheator continued to
collect income from the alienated lands of the archbishopric of Armagh in the
period from 20th February 1322 until 1st August 1323.
This income amounted to £2 1s 8d per year at Monsterbud in Uriel, £4 7s 8d
yearly at Ivormongan and 1s 10d yearly at Drumeskin. The income on these places
from 1st August 1323 to 3rd January 1324 amounted to 7s
6d for 30 acres, 13s 4d for 80 acres, £2 for one carucate, 9d for one acre, 6d
for one messuage and 3s 10d for other rents.[30]

From 28th
June 1316 to 14th May 1317 and onwards to 28th May 1319
two parts of the manor of Nobber were in the King’s hand because James Bernard
and Thomas le Thorp made unlawful entry. The escheator collected £19 8s 7d and £33
4s 11d before the property was delivered to Roland, Archbishop of Armagh.[31]

From the feast of St.
Edmund 1318 the Archbishop of Armagh lost £2 rent and issues from five
carucates at Creg in County Meath for trespass. The property was rented from
the Archbishop by Richard Duff, deceased. The King granted the rent to the
Archbishop of Dublin in part payment of 200 marks owed to the Archbishop of
Dublin for his expenses as justiciar.[32]

On the supposed resignation
of Roland as Archbishop of Armagh the temporalities were taken into the King’s
hand but the escheator collected no income from same because the temporalities
were delivered to Simon son of Richard and Mahon de Cruys before any rent term
fell due.[33]
Shortly after land at Drumeskin that was formerly held by Roesia de Paris was
taken into the King’s hand because Roland, Archbishop of Armagh, alienated it
without licence to Simon son of Richard. But the escheator gained nothing for
the property as Simon received livery and full seisin by a writ delivered into
the Exchequer on 28th April 1323. Meanwhile Simon son of Richard and
Macomet de Cruys accounted for no income from the temporalities of Armagh from
6th April 1323 to 20th July because it was certified that
Archbishop Roland had no in fact resigned.[34]

From 14th June
1324 until 1st December 1324 the escheator gathered £54 17s ¾d in
receipts. £43 0s 9¾d came from the demesnes, meadows, pastures, farms, betagh,
cottiers and free tenants of the manors of Kilmoun, Inoskeen, Nerny, Rustagh,
Drumeskin, Termonfeckin and Nobber. £1 18s 7d came from mills, tollboots,
market tolls and prise of fish while £9 17s 8½d came from increments.[35]

From 4th
February 1324 until 16th February 1326 the escheator collected £1 6s
4d for the rent of 12 acres at Drumeskin which was in the King’s hand because
Nicholas, the late Archbishop of Armagh, alienated it without a licence.[36]

In the time of King
Edward III the escheator still collected £7 0s 6d for rent of 30 acres at
Mansterbud in Uriel which was alienated by Nicholas, late Archbishop of Armagh,
along with 3s 10d for a messuage and 26 acres in Iuermcbury, 9d for one acre at
Drumeskin, and 6d for a messuage there. At the vacancy of the Archbishopric,
the escheator collected £4 2s ¾d at Mouresrath for the land of John Mowe,
deceased, who held of the Archbishop.[37]

From 5th
March 1333 until 5th March 1335 the escheator collected £2 yearly
rent from a carucate of land at the Setoun near Drumeskin in Uriel. This land
was granted by Richard Slmeriche to Nicholas, late Archbishop of Armagh, to
support the church of Armagh but was giving without royal licence. Therefore
the property was taken into the King’s hand.[38]

By writ of 30th
July 1332 the King pardoned the trespass of illegal alienation by Nicholas,
late Archbishop of Armagh, of a messuage and ten acres of land at Newtown of
Setoun in Uriel to Robert le Botiller. The property was granted to the
Archbishop of Dublin as part payment of 200 marks and after 30th
July Stephen de Seagrave, Archbishop of Armagh, had full title.[39]
Meanwhile, up to 25th June 1333 Stephen de Segrave had custody of
the County Meath lands of the late Walter de Turpilton until delivered to
Walter’s son and heir, Hugh de Turpilton. Stephen de Segrave also had custody
of two parts of the manor of Ardee in Co. Louth from the estate of the late
John de Bermingham, Earl of Louth.[40]

On the death of Stephen
de Segrave, Archbishop of Armagh, the temporalities were taken into the King’s
hand. From 27th October 1333 until 16th March 1335 when
delivered to David, the new Archbishop, the manor of Kilmore in Co. Meth earned
£31 7d in receipts. In the same period the manor of Nobber earned £25 8s 3½d,
Termonfeckin (£97 9s 10d), and Drumeskin (£8 2s 6½d) until 14th
February 1334 when delivered to John Gernon.[41]

In 1335 the Archbishop
of Armagh received 1s 4d per year in rent from the escheator for land held by
the King in Moures Rath in Uriel.[42]
Later rent rolls from the 1430s onwards are contained in extract form in a
manuscript at the National Library of Ireland (N.L.I., MS 4831).[43]
At the 1467 Parliament at Drogheda the then Archbishop of Armagh, John Bole,
received a formal charter of the legal and feudal property rights attached to
the Archbishopric. In 1946 Rev. Aubrey Gwynn wrote a study on the property of
the Archbishopric and gave an account of other sources of income available to
the Archbishop. These other sources included tithes and the annual “Dues of St.
Patrick”. The latter collection was made in the dioceses of Meath and Armagh
and seems to be a carryover from an ancient collection due to the Archbishop as
“coarb of St. Patrick”.[44]

Cashel
archbishopric

On the death of Stephen
O’Bragan, Archbishop of Cashel, the temporalities came into the Kings hand. In
the period from the feast of St. James 1302 until the morrow of Michaelmas in
the same year £81 19s 6d was accrued in receipts. 38s 2d came from the rent of
Camys manor with its member of Listagan and the manors of Kilmylock, Killough
and Iverad. The demesnes were tilled before the Archbishop’s death and so
brought in no income but £8 14s 3d came by rent of the gavellers, betaghs,
cottiers and farmers with the rent of Clonfinglas manor. The free tenants and
the rent of Burgageleth manor brought in £67 15s 6d. The rent and issues of
mills, farms, stalls and turbary of the manors of Camys, Kilmylock and
Burgageleth earned 46s while 25s 7d came from the courts with the manor of
Iverad. In the period from the morrow of Michaelmas 1303 to the purification of
Blessed Virgin Mary (2nd February) 1304 the receipts amounted to
£199 2s 10d which included money from the manors of Kilardry and Fytheryd.[45]

In 1318 William,
Archbishop of Cashel, received the lands formerly held by Walter Maunsel,
deceased, along with the marriage of the heir, to hold until the majority of
the heir. The escheator gained no income from the property as it was delivered
to the Archbishop before any income was due.[46]

In 11th year
of Edward II (8th July 1318 to 7th July 1319) the
escheator collected no income from the archbishopric of Cashel, in the King’s
hands since the death of Archbishop Maurice because the temporalities were intrusted
to the custody of John, son of Peter le Poer, Baron of Dunhill, to hold until
he recovered 500 marks owed to him and shortly after the temporalities were
delivered to William, archbishop-elect.[47]

From 1309 to 1313 the
escheator collected £30 per year from the churches of Ardmail and Ballysithecan
in the Diocese of Cashel. These churches were formerly owned by the Knights
Templar. Of this money the Archbishop of Cashel received £8 10s 8d for proxies
and entertainment.[48]

After the death of
Walter, Archbishop of Cashel, the temporalities were taken into the King’s
hand. But the escheator answered nothing in respect to the rent and issues
because Master John Ograde held the temporalities on behalf of the King and on
9th July 1332 John Ograde received full title as he was the new
Archbishop of Cashel. In another report it was said that the dean and chapter
held custody, on behalf of the King, of the Cashel temporalities from Monday
after the feast of St. Matthew the apostle 1326 until 18th May 1327
when delivered to John, Archbishop-elect. In that time £130 9s 1¾d was
collected in receipts. This came from Fethard manor (£13 16s 8d), Killough
manor (£30 2d), Everard manor (£14 6s 5¾d), the burgery of new Cashel and
Cammys (£50 19s 2d with 4 crannocs of wheat and 2 crannocs of oats), and £13 6s
8d from the manors of Kilmaclef and Killardery. The latter two manors were
rented by William de Bermingham for 20 marks per year and from which £8 came
from the free tenants there.[49]

The Rock of Cashel - home of the Archbishop

On 19th June
1337 a writ delivered to the Exchequer restored to John, Archbishop of Cashel,
the rents and issues of three carucates of land in Ordyn and Ardbygyn in Co.
Tipperary. This land was taken into the King’s hand because David McKerwill,
former Archbishop of Cashel, alienated the property to Reginald McCotyr,
senior, without obtaining a royal licence. Because the property was almost
immediately restored to the Archbishopric, the escheator accounted for no
income from the property.[50]

From 1st
August 1331 until 10th August 1336 the escheator held a messuage and
60 acres of land at Pipardstown, Co. Tipperary. This property belonged to
William Hacket, deceased, who held of the Archbishopric of Cashel which was
then vacant and in the King’s hand. £7 was collected where the annual income
was £1 8s. By the same custody within a custody the escheator accounted for 8s
from a garden and acre of arable land at Fethard held by John de Coulduf,
chaplain from the Archbishopric of Cashel. This property had an annual income
of 1s and the 8s included 4s of a increment. In the same period Sir Adam de
London answered at the Exchequer for £12 in respect of the temporalities and
still owed the money.[51]

Clonfert
bishopric

From 22nd
February 1296 until 28th January 1297 the temporalities of Clonfert
were in the King’s hand and in that time £88 15s was collected in receipts.[52] Years later the escheator answered for no
income from the temporalities following the death of Robert Petyt because John,
the new bishop, took delivered by writ to the Exchequer on 6th March
1323.[53]

Apart from the above
records from the Reports of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records in Ireland,
a rental of the dioceses of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh, transcribed by James
Ware, was published by K.W. Nichols as ‘The episcopal rentals of Clonfert and
Kilmacduagh’, in Analecta Hibernica,
no. 26 (1970), pp. 130-43.[54]

Clonmacnoise
bishopric

For an account of the ancient pre-Norman lands see the study by Annette Kehnel 'The lands of St. Ciaran', in Clonmacnoise Studies, Volume 1 seminar papers 1994, pages 11 to 17.With the death of
Thomas Ocuyn in 1279, the bishopric of Clonmacnoise was taken into the King’s hand from
Friday after the feast of St. Martin (11th November) 1279 until 18th
February 1282 when the temporalities were delivered to Gilbert, dean of
Clonmacnoise, bishop-elect on the presentation of John, Archbishop of Armagh.
In that time £30 13s 4d was gathered in receipts from Ouelytrach and Tyruene in
Connacht and the lands in the cantred of Clonmacdunmore. No income was earned
from the waste lands in Clonmacnoise, Moybateran in Omany and elsewhere in the
marches between Meath and Connacht.[55]

From Wednesday after
the feast of the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (2nd
February) 1274 to the vigil of Easter 1275 the crown collected £125 6s 1½d in
receipts from the Cloyne bishopric. This income came from such places as
Ballycanenan, Ballymaccromyn, Ballykanan, Athgner, Ballycocekyn, the town of
Cloyne, the manor of Cloyne, Coole, Ballymacchynyn, Ballymyne, Donenachmore and
the manor of Iniscar.[56]

In the papal taxation
of 1302-6 the sum of £100 was placed on the value of the goods of the Bishop of
Cloyne in both temporal and spiritual income.[57] Yet
we cannot be certain about this value as the valuation was for the proposes of
taxation and clerics across the country had a tendency to place a low valuation
so as to keep the tax bill down.[58]

After the death of
Nicholas, Bishop of Cloyne, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand.
From the Wednesday the morrow of St. Matthias (14th May) 1322 to 1st
August 1322 the escheator collected £20 18s 3d from the demesne lands, meadows,
pastures and turbaries on the bishopric manors along with £33 18s from the rent
of betaghs, cottiers and rent-payers together with the rent of the hand-mills.
A further £55 17s came from the free tenants and burgesses, £2 from the issues
of mills and £1 16s from the issues of the hundred courts and market tolls. All
this income came from the bishopric manors of Cloyne with Ballycotin,
Kilmeeleynyn, Coole and Brissagh.[59]

At some date the Bishop
of Cloyne purchased 80 acres at Kilmcleynyn from David McLaughlin and
subsequently sold the land, without gaining a royal licence, to William de
Barry. In such circumstance the property is taken into the King’s hand but the
escheator gained no income from as a writ of 17th April 1321
delivered the land to William de Barry.[60]

From 1st
August 1322 until 3rd January 1323 the escheator collected £6 18s 5d
from the demesne lands of the manors belonging to the Bishopric of Cloyne and
with other receipts the total income amounted to £38 3s 1d. But as no gale day
for rent occurred while the escheator held the temporalities the income quoted
must be below the actual total income due. The temporalities were delivered to
Maurice, the new bishop, on 30th January 1323.[61]

By the death of Maurice
O Solehan, Bishop of Cloyne, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand.
From 31st March 1333 until 5th March 1335 the escheator
collected £119 2s 2d in receipts. This income came from the rent and issues of
the demesnes, meadows, pastures, farmers, cottiers, betaghs and free tenants on
the bishopric manors of Cloyne, West Muskerry, Coole, Clenor and Kilmaclenine.
From 5th March to 16th September 1335 the escheator
collected £27 5s 9d in receipts. A writ dated 8th December 1335 delivered
the temporalities to John de Cumba, the new Bishop. The receipts of the
temporalities were backdated to 16th September and the annual
revenue was said to be £54 11s 2d.[62]

More detail records of
the estates and income of the bishopric of Cloyne can be got from the Pipe Roll
of Cloyne begun by John de Swaffham, Bishop of Cloyne 1363-1376. This record
shows rentals and land deeds from 1364 with additions by later Bishops up to
1481 and particularly by Bishop Gerald Caneton (1394-c.1412).[63] Although
the original record was lost in the Four Courts fire of 1922 edited versions do
survive. The record was edited by Richard Caulfield in 1859 and published at
Cork as Rotulus Pipae Clonensis. A
new edition with English translation was edited by Paul MacCotter and K.W.
Nichols and published in 1996 by the Cloyne Literary and Historical Society as The Pipe Roll of Cloyne (Rotulus PipaeClonensis).[64]

Connor
bishopric

This bishopric was held
by the crown from the feast of St. Katherine the virgin (25th
November) 1274 to the feast of St. Augustine (28th August) 1275 and
generated £8 6s in receipts.[65]

Cork
bishopric

After the death of
Reginald, Bishop of Cork, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand
from the Wednesday after the feast of St. Lucy the virgin (13th
December ) 1276 until 11th June 1277 when they were delivered to
Brother Robert the monk, bishop-elect. In that time £32 13s 10d was collected
from the manor of Fayd with the burgages, mills, fishing weirs, fisheries, and
the perquisites of the hundred along with the demesnes etc. from Kilbrogan and
elsewhere.[66]

In the period 6th
March 1302 to 20th July in the same year the bishopric of Cork
generated £23 15s 11d in income receipts. This was between the death of Robert,
the late bishop and the delivery of the temporalities to John McKerwill, the
new bishop. Of the amount raised 63s came from the rent of pastures, 15s from
gaveller rent, £18 6s 1d from free tenants, 27s 6d from mills, fisheries, weirs
and gardens while 4s 4d came from the perquisites of the court.[67]

In the papal taxation
of 1302-6 the sum of £40 was put on the value of the revenue of the Bishop of
Cork in relation to spiritual and temporal income. Elsewhere the temporalities
were valued at £69 6s 8d. This was made up of 40 marks in rents, 24 marks in
lands and 40 marks in spiritual income.[68]

In September 1321 the
escheator gained no money from the temporalities of Cork after the transfer of
John, the former bishop, to the see of Meath because the temporalities were
immediately delivered to Philip of Slaan, of the order of Preachers, the new
Bishop of Cork.[69]

Dublin
Archbishopric

The Dublin
archbishopric was the richest of all the medieval Irish bishoprics. Even before
the Norman Conquest the Archbishopric was a major landholder in the Dublin area
with about 50,000 acres of the modern county of some 222,710 acres. After 1200
the Archbishop’s estate was about 53,000 while the two cathedral chapters held
another 12,370 acres. The old baronies of Nethercross and Uppercross preserve
in their name the cross lands of the Archbishop.[70]

The Archbishopric’s
location, in and around, the chief trading port of medieval Ireland helped to
make it rich. The fact that Dublin was also the chief city of Anglo-Norman
Ireland and the most often location of the administration and army made it a
secure, peaceful place, although the Irish, particularly from the Wicklow
Mountains, occasionally raided in the district causing destruction and economic
loss.

Apart from the records
of the various escheators of Ireland published in the appendix to various Reports of the Deputy Keeper of the Public
Records in Ireland, 35 to 44, the revenue of the Bishopric and its estates
survive in a number of documents. In the late thirteenth century a record of
deeds relating to the episcopal estates was compiled in the Crede mihi. This was published in 1897 under
the editorship of John T. Gilbert as Crede
mihi; the most ancient register book of the archbishops of Dublin before the
reformation. In 1950 the Liber niger
Alani was published under the editorship of Charles McNeill by the Royal
Society of Antiquaries of Ireland by the title of Calendar of Alen’s register, c.1172-1534 and this contains many
deeds from the twelfth century relating to rentals an extents.[71]

In the 13th
year of Henry III (28th October 1228 to 27th October
1229) the archbishopric of Dublin generated the following income; £220 10s 4½d
from Swords; £40 7s 4d from St. Keyvin’s; £25 9s 11½d from Finglas; £27 15½d
from Senekill and Kilmackburn; £56 from Salvum Keyvini; £32 5s 7½d from
Clondacane 54s from Newtown; £29 17s 10d from Tanelach; £83 12s 1½d from
Ballymore; £18 14s 6½d from Rathcool; £8 3s 4d from Bretaschia; 5 marks 12s
from the Earl Marshal; £10 from Richard Fanyn; 26s from Nicholas Petit; 10 marks
from Stagmothan; 40s from the greater church of Glendaloch; 40s from
Tristeldermot; £13 9s 5d from the demesne lands of the various manors; 79s 10d
from the sale of meadows; 75s 7d from herbage and £18 8s 6½d from the pleas and
perquisites of the court.[72]

In 1272 Master John de
Sampford received £200 from the archbishopric of Dublin in new aid via Walter
de la Haye and Thomas de Chaddesworth.[73]

The archbishopric of
Dublin was again in the King’s hand from the feast of St. James the apostle (25th
July) 1271 to Michaelmas 1277. In that time the crown collected a great amount
of income from the various manors belonging to the archbishopric. In all the
sum of £8,046 9s 6¾d was collected. The account of this period was printed in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy,
vol. 5, pp. 149-162.[74]

The archbishopric of
Dublin continued to remain in the King’s hand from Michaelmas 1277 to the
Sunday after the feast of St. Hilary 1279. In that period £1,669 2s 5½d was
collected in income from the various manors.[75] From
the feast of St. Hilary 1279 to 28th January 1279 when the
temporalities were delivered to Brother John de Derlington, archbishop-elect,
the sum of £405 9s 3½d was collected in receipts. The income should have been
greater but the manors of Castlekevin, Kilmacberr and Kilmesantan were waste
and nobody cared to take them due to the war with the Irish.[76]

The temporalities of
the Archbishopric of Dublin were in the King’s hand from the morrow of
Michaelmas 1296 until the feast of the purification of B.V.M. 1297 when they
were delivered to William de Hothom, the new Archbishop. In that time the manor
of Swords had £94 5s 4½d in income, £105 4s 10½d came from Finglas manor, £120
3s 4½d from Colon manor, £136 18s 4½d from Shanakill, £159 17s 11¼d from
Clondalkin, £161 1s 7 ¼ d from Tallagh, £170 16s 6d from Rathcool, and £218
12s½d from Ballymore.[77]

Following the death of
William de Hothom, Archbishop of Dublin, the temporalities were taken into the
King’s hand. From the Saturday before the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy
Cross (14th September) 1298 until 12th July 1300, when
the temporalities were delivered to Richard de Feringes, the new Archbishop,
the escheator collected various receipts from the Archbishopric manors
including a fine for marriage at Finglas amounting to £1,621 13s 3¼d. In
additional to the monetary income, 603 quarters and 1 bushel of wheat along
with 491 crannocks and 3 bushels of oats were delivered to the King’s purveyors
for the Scottish war. Additional supplies of wheat were purchased from the
executors of William de Hothom to bring the total amount to 1,898 crannocks and
7½ bushels. Of the wheat and oats gathered 548 crannocks and 7 bushels of wheat
were returned as seed for 1,163 acres and 478 crannocks and 10 bushels of oats
were returned as seed for 1,021 acres. Later 295 acres of wheat sown with the
above seed was sold. Some 82 horses and 199 cows were purchased from the
temporalities.[78]

St. Patrick's cathedral, Dublin

After the death of John
de Leek, Archbishop of Dublin, the temporalities were taken into the King’s
hand from the feast of St. Lawrence the martyr (10th August) 1313
until 24th February 1314 (28 weeks) and in that time £289 6s 3¼d was
collected in receipts.[79]

In the period from 1st
September 1313 until a month after Easter 1315 the escheator collected various
incomes from property alienated by Richard de Feryngs, late Archbishop of
Dublin, without obtaining the King’s licence. This income included £3 per year
rent for one carucate of land at Ballmcwither near Lusk and £4 for a tenement
at Lusk. In all £149 11s ½d was collected.[80]
Many of these alienated lands were still in the hands of the crown in the
period from 14th May 1317 until the Monday after the feast of St.
Lawrence 1319 when the escheator collected £28 9s 4d in receipts.[81]

In the period from 24th
February 1314 to 28th September 1315 the escheator collected £1,223
10s 9¼d from the temporalities of the see of Dublin.[82]
From 14th May 1317 until 1st February 1319 the escheator
held two parts of a messuage and land formerly held by Peter Doundoun from the
Archbishop of Dublin at Ballysyward, Co. Limerick.[83]

In Michaelmas term 1318
the Archbishop of Dublin was given a number of properties around Ireland that
were in wardship or had escheated to the crown. The Archbishop could hold these
lands until he had earned 200 marks from them. This was by way of compensation
of 200 marks granted to the Archbishop to meet his expense as justiciar of
Ireland. the properties involved were the lands of Henry Judas and Walter
Russell in County Waterford (rental income of 9s 7½d) – the Russell property of
a messuage and 12 ½ acres was restored to Laurence Rede, heir of Walter by writ
dated 8th August 1335; the land of Roger de Messyngtoun in Co. Meath
(rental income of 15s on a carucate of land); the land and tenement of Robert
de Bree at Kilsaughan, Co. Dublin (7s 4½d yearly rental income); the land of
Hugh Tyrell at Casteknock, Co. Dublin (8s yearly rental income for 8 acres);
the land of Walter son of Gilbert at Clonorrenan, Co. Dublin (11s yearly rent);
6s rent for 12 acres at Liskilthyn, Co. Waterford; two parts of the land of
James la Taillour at Croynestown in Uriel (30s 2d in 18 months = this property
grant to Stephen Taillour, son of James 1st April 1322) and the
rents and issues for two parts of eleven burgages at Lynan, Co. Tipperary
(worth £3 1s 6d over 21 months) along with two parts of two free tenants at
Walterestown Hamelyn in Uriel (£2 in rental income) and 16s 8d rent (for 6
months) from a number of free tenements at Callan in Uriel (held until 11th
June 1333) which were taken into the King’s hand because Mellifont abbey
alienated the property without licence along with 7s 6d from a messuage and
land at Maundevillestown in Uriel with £2 rent on five carucates at Creg in
County Meath, forfeited to the King by the Archbishop of Armagh for trespass.[84]The escheator accounted for many of these places in the period 28th
June 1316 to 14th May 1317. At the same time the escheator collected
£7 2s 4¼d from the land of Peter Daundoun at Ballsyward in Co. Limerick from
which he deducted 13s 4d in head rent for the Archbishop of Dublin.[85]
On 30th July 1332 the property of a messuage and 10 acres at Newtown
of Setoun in Uriel, which was given to the Archbishop of Dublin in part payment
of the 200 marks, was restored to Stephen de Segrave, Archbishop of Armagh.[86]

In 1316 the escheator
gave a statement of arrears of the issues of the Archbishopric of Dublin as
amounting to £491 11s 6¾d.[87]

On 15th
February 1335 the escheator took into the King’s hand the property of John de
Multon in Ireland on the death of the latter. Shortly after (17th
February) the custody of the property (worth £44 14s 1d per year), was
delivered to Alexander, Archbishop of Dublin, for which he was to account at
the Exchequer. But the Archbishop didn’t have it for long as on 20th
February the property was delivered to Philippa, Queen of England.[88]

On the death of Henry
de Cogan on 23rd February 1336 his property was taken into the
King’s hand until 20th March when it was delivered to Alexander,
Archbishop of Dublin, for a certain fine rendered to the King until the
majority of the heir of Peter de Cogan, kinsman of Henry.[89]

For later accounts of
the revenues of the Archbishopric of Dublin the Liber niger Alani has fourteenth century rentals while a rental
relating to 1382 was published by James Mills in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 4th
series, ix (1889), pp. 31-41.[90]

Elphin
bishopric

In the late 1320s
Richard de Exeter rented two parts of two parts of two carucates of land at
Clonaybren near Roscommon from John, Bishop of Elphin. The rent for 24th
July 1331 until 24th March 1333 was 17s 8½d. The land was taken into
the King’s hand following the death of Richard de Exeter and the escheator
collected £2 12s as income for the same period.[91]

Emly
bishopric

In 1244 Geoffrey de
Mariscis was said to have rented land in Kelpriokes, Kilkalan, Danachgulian,
Kellinery, Kelgoban and Ballydimedir from the Bishop of Emly.[92]

The demesne lands of the manor of Imelachuor (Emly) were set to farm from the feast of St. Peter (29th June) 1272 to 2nd August 1272 after the death of the former bishop. A sum of £59 19s 2d was collected which included receipts from Ballymacsty, Kildromon and pasture on the mountain. On 2nd August the temporalities were delivered to the bishop-elect by the name of Matthew who was the former archdeacon of Emly.[99]

Imelachor (Emly) was again in the King’s hands from the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (4th April) 1275 to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14th September). In that time £56 15s 2¼d was raised in receipts from places like the lordship of Imelachor, the burgages of Imelach, the lordship of Ballymaestech, the lordship of Kildromin and other places.[100]

After the death of David Ocusby, Bishop of Ymelac (Emly), the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand from Wednesday the feast of St. Barnabas (11th June) 1281 to the same day a year later. In that time £158 1s 3d was earned in receipts. This income came from the demesne lands of Ymelachyvor, Ballymacsti (Ballymacstey), Kildrommin, Cortyr-Thometyn and Kuldohelech.[159]Between 4th
February 1309 and 14th May in the same year the temporalities of
Emly were in the King’s hand due to the death of Thomas Canok, late bishop,
until they were delivered to William Routheued, bishop-elect. In that time £6
11s in receipts accrued from the demesnes, pastures and meadows belonging to
the bishopric in Counties Tipperary and Limerick. Other sources of income
generated £97 3s 1¾d in receipts.[93]

Between 15th
June 1335 and 16th August 1335 the escheator accounted for 1s 4d
from the issues and profits of the hundreds, fairs market tolls and extern
courts of the temporalities of Emly in the King’s hand by the death of William,
late Bishop of Emly. By a writ dated 16th August, the temporalities
were delivered to Richard Walsh, bishop-elect.[94]

Ferns
bishopric

Following the death of
Hugh, Bishop of Ferns, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand from
the Friday before the feast of St. Dunstan (19th May) 1282 until 13th
October in the same year. In that time £104 18s 10 ¾ d was gathered in
receipts. This inome came from the manor of Fethard, Kinhech, Ballyengelyn with
Clonmore and Ballyengelyn along with land at Macglass with Ballygillany and
Clonard and Ferns.[95]

On the death of Robert
Waleraunt, Bishop of Ferns, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand
from 17th November 1311 until 14th March 1312 when they
were delivered to master Adam de Northampton, the bishop-elect. In that time £4
15s 6d was collected in receipts from the perquisites of the hundred courts,
mills, prise of ale, etc., from the manors of Ferns, Polregan, Moiglass,
Ballyenglyn, Kynneyth and Fethard. No rent money was collected for the demesne
lands in these manors as no gale day fell within the period of account. A
further £18 3s 2d was collected in increments.[96]

The manor of Clonard of
the Bishopric of Ferns was taken into the King’s hand because Adam, Bishop of
Ferns, alienated the manor without a licence. But the escheator gathered no
income from the rents and issues of the manor because the property was restored
of the Bishop of Ferns.[97]
From Easter term 1332 until 26th September 1332 the escheator
collected £2 13s 4d from the messuage and three carucates of land at Clonard
which Richard, late Bishop of Ferns, had alienated without licence to Geoffrey
de Bybury. By writ delivered to the Exchequer on 26th September the
land was delivered to John de Sutton.[98]

Choir area of the medieval cathedral at Ferns

Kildare
bishopric

From the feast of St.
Bartholomew (24th August) to the feast of St. Martin (11th
November) 1232 the bishopric of Kildare was in the king’s hand and Geoffrey,
seneschal of the archbishop of Dublin, collected £19 5s 10½d as income. Of this
amount £17 10s 10d was paid into the Dublin exchequer and the remainder was to
cover Geoffrey’s expenses.[101]

The Kildare bishopric
was in the King’s hand from Wednesday after Palm Sunday 1272 to the vigil of
Michaelmas 1276 and in that time the crown collected £673 15s 7d in receipts.
This income came from the manor of Kildare, and other places like Selyok,
Rathelewyn and Ballyknavyn along with Nerny, Athgarvan, Woodtown, Lilach,
Cloncurry, Kill and Cormockiswell.[102]

From the vigil of
Michaelmas 1276 to 19th February 1281 the bishopric of Kildare was
in the king’s hand until the temporalities were delivered to Brother Nicholas,
the new bishop. In that time £673 18s 6½d was gathered in receipts. This income
came from the manor of Kildare and other places like Selyok, Kildare, Rathalewy
and Ballycnawyn along with Clongory, Lilyagh, Woodtown, the rent of Matilda the
widow, Nerny, Adgarvan, Kilcormokes, Wells and the rent from a house in Dublin
which belonged to the bishopric.[103]

After the death of
Nicholas Cusack, Bishop of Kildare, the temporalities were taken into the
King’s hand. In the period from Saturday before the feast of the nativity of
Blessed Virgin Mary 1299 (8th September) to 4th April
1300 the receipts amounted to £549 7s ½d. £29 8s 2d came from the gavellers on
the manors of Kildare, Adgarvan, Kill, Nerny, Cloncanry, Ballycnayn and Garue.
£6 15s 5d came from rent of free tenants and 2s 5d from perquisites of the
court.[104]

In the time of King
Edward III the Bishop of Kildare was owed rent for the site of the castle at
Kildare. In 1333 he was paid £2 19s 3¼d by the escheator who held the estate of
the deceased Earl of Kildare, Richard son of Thomas, during the minority of the
heir. In the period 6th December 1331 until 28th February
1333 the escheator deducted £2 4s 5¼d from the one third income at Kildare from
the estate of the late Blanch, Countess of Kildare, to pay the rent to the
Bishop of Kildare for the Kildare castle site.[105]

In the year from 19th
November 1332 to 19th November 1333 the escheator gathered £3 3s 7½d
from the income relating to the lands and tenements which belonged to Walter
Calf, late Bishop of Kildare, at the Norragh, Co. Kildare. This property was
held of John de Hastings, deceased, and so was a custody within a custody.[106]

After the death of Walter,
Bishop of Kildare, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand. From 29th
November 1332 until 19th January 1333 (7 weeks) the escheator
collected 2s 6½d from the issues and profit of a mill, dovecot and court until
title was delivered to the dean and chapter. The new Bishop of Kildare,
Richard, was granted seisin of the temporalities by writ 25th April
1334. The dean and chapter later accounted for £45 2s 11d which they said was
the yearly income. The chapter were allowed £5 5s 4d in respect of 268 acres
which was sown with wheat and harvested before the death of Walter, the late
Bishop.[107]

Kildare cathedral

Killala
bishopric

After the death of
John, Bishop of Killala, the temporalities of the bishopric were taken into the
King’s hand from Wednesday before the feast of SS Simon and Jude (28th
October) 1280 until Michaelmas 1281 when they were delivered to Donough,
bishop-elect. £21 8s 2½d was earn in receipts for that time. This income came
from the demesne lands of Killayde, Rathcogyn and Kilmorymody and the island of
Oleyhan Meclassy. There was no income earned from the lands of Clonichoscryg
and Drummard or the free tenants there resident because the lands were waste
and nobody would take them.[108]

Killaloe
bishopric

The bishopric of
Killaloe was held by the crown from Tuesday before the feast of the Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15th August) 1281 until 6th
July 1282 when the temporalities were delivered to Maurice, precentor of the
church and later bishop of Killaloe. In that time £70 14 1½d was gathered in
receipts from the lands of Ballymolyn, Gilrothstown, Clonelan and Stachedan in
the tenement of Newastle Lyons near Dublin with the lands of the Irish there.
The latter place was held of the king as part of an exchange for the manor of
Roscrea where the government had built a royal castle. Income also gathered
from the demesne lands of Artcrony in Co. Tipperary and part of the lands in
Thomond, the remainder of Thomond was in waste because of the war with the
Irish.[109]

In about the 30th
year Edward 1 (20th November 1301 to 19th November 1302) certain
lands at Killucan in Co. Dublin were taken into the King’s hands because
Maurice, Bishop of Killaloe, alienated the property to James O’Hogan, his son,
without receiving a royal licence. The value of the property was £12 0s 9½d in
rental receipts per year.[110]

On the death of David,
Bishop of Killaloe, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand from 14th
May 1317 until 2nd July 1317 when they were delivered to Thomas,
bishop-elect. But the escheator collected no income in that time as no rent
payment date fell within the said period.[111]

From the vigil of St.
Peter ad vincula (1st August) 1321 until the same feast 1322 the
escheator collected £4 17s 1 ½ d from the land of Gilrotheston, Co. Dublin,
which was part of the temporalities of Killaloe, then in the King’s hand. From
1st August 1332 to 3rd January 1323 the escheator
collected £2 8s 6¾d from this Dublin property. In the temporalities of Killaloe
in Munster and Thomond the escheator could gain nothing as the land was
uncultivated and in the march of the Irish.[112]

On the death of Thomas
Ocurmegan, Bishop of Killaloe, the temporalities were taken into the King’s
hand but no income was collected by the escheator before Benedict, the new
Bishop, took delivery as no gale day for rent fell in the held period. This
period was up to 26th January 1323.[113]

Leighlin
bishopric

The crown held the
bishopric of Leighlin from the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist (25th
April) 1275 to 7th March 1276 and collected £120 5s 3d in receipts.
This income came from such places as the manor of Woodstock, the lands of
Fynnoure, Killory, the town of Welles, the burgages of Old Leighlin, and the
land of Tachmeho which was rented by the prior of Conal.[114]

From 28th
July 1309 to 15th November of the same year the escheator collected
£1 15s 1½d from the rent of the farmers using the meadows on the manor of Old
Leighlin and on the associated lands at Killory and Fynnoure. The escheator
collected £18 6s 8d from other sources of income. The pastures and woods of the
bishopric yield no income.

The entry relating to
the Leighlin bishopric raises an important matter relative to the value of each
bishopric in Ireland and that is the time of the farming year that the temporalities
were in crown hands. The escheator said that little income could be got from
the demesne lands because the demesne lands were tilled before the bishop’s
death and so there was not harvested crop to generate income. The bishopric was
in the King’s hand because of the death of Nicholas Cheuere, the late Bishop of
Leighlin. The new bishop-elect was Maurice de Blancheville.[115]

In the 15th
year of Edward II (8th July 1321 to 7th July 1322) Master
Meiler le Poer, bishop-elect of Leighlin, promised to pay 40 marks as a fine
for having livery of the temporalities to be paid at a rate of 10 marks per
year. Milo le Poer and Master Reymund de Sutton stood as securities that the
money would be paid.[116]

Limerick
bishopric

On 31st July
1216 a mandate was sent to Geoffrey de Mariscis, justiciar, to assign to
Edmund, Bishop of Limerick, 10 librates of land within or within of the cantred
of Limerick in lieu of an annuity of £10 payable by the Bishop at the
Exchequer.[117]

The temporalities of
the bishopric of Limerick were in the King’s hands from Monday before the feast
of the Exaltation of the Cross (14th September) 1272 to Epiphany (6th
January) 1273 when the bishopric was delivered to Gerald, the bishop-elect. In
that time £126 14s 1d was raised in revenue. Among the income were receipts
from Cloncheure, Moryn, Moyngaret, Ocrossan, the heir of Roger Sweyn, the mill
of Senekyl, the demesne lands of Tulocbroc, the vill of Bymer and the demesne
lands of Dromdale to named but a few places.[118]

In the period from
Easter 1296 to Easter 1299 the escheator held the manor of Shanid in Co.
Limerick which had come to the King on the death of Thomas son of Maurice. From
the receipts of the manor the escheator paid the Bishop of Limerick 4s for land
which the grandfather of Thomas gave the nuns of Okonyl and 13s 4d to the
Bishop for certain land in the demesnes which Thomas held of the Bishop.[119]

Following the death of Gerald,
Bishop of Limerick, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand until
delivered to Robert Dundouenald, the new Bishop. The escheator held the
temporalities from 10th February 1302 until 23rd
September in same year and in that time gathered £96 0s 11¾d in income. This
came from 36s 4d of the perquisities of the court, £7 13s 11d from the mills
and gardens, £54 13s 3¼d from the rent of free tenants and the villages of
Ardaugh and Kilmallock. The rent of Irish cottiers, gavelers and farmers on the
manors of Lauwyl, Ballymolingnan and Tylauchbryk came to £29 5s 7d.[120]

On the death of Robert
de Dundounald, Bishop of Limerick, the temporalities were taken into the King’s
hand from 3rd May 1311 until 28th February 1312 when they
were delivered to Eustace de Aqua, the bishop-elect. During that time the
escheator collected £13 10s 2d in rent receipts from the demesne lands on the
manors of Cloncheure, Dissard, Senogell, Dromdel, Lauewill, Mongaret (the mill
was lately burnt by the Irish), Kilmehalok (Kilmallock), Tullachbrek and
Ballymlynan. From these rents the escheator had to deduct £4 1s for the
Michaelmas term 5 Edward on 4 carucates and 58 acres which was sown before the
bishop’s death. This deduction was based on a calculation of 3d on every acre
within 3½ carucates and 8 acres with 6d deducted on every acre within an area
of 110 acres. Other sources of income generated £126 5s 9¾d in receipts.[121]

From 8th
December 1312 until 1st September 1313 the escheator collected 5s in
rent from two parts of the property of Robert Beauver who held of the Bishop of
Limerick and as the see was vacant at the time, the rent became a custody within
a custody. A further 20s was collected from the Beauver lands from 1st
September 1313 until a month after Easter 1315.[122]

The escheator collected
10s in rent for the Beauver property from 28th June 1316 to 14th
May 1317 and collected another 20s in the period from 14th May 1317
until Monday after the feast of St. Lawrence (10th August) 1319. In
the period 20th February 1321 to 1st August 1322 the
escheator collected 15s in rent receipts from the land of Robert de Beauver of
the Bishopric of Limerick because the see was then vacant. The yearly income
was 10s. From the 1st August 1322 until 3rd January 1323
the escheator collected 5s from the Beauver estate as the see was then vacant.[123]

From 14th
May 1333 until 22nd September 1333 the escheator collected 15s from
the issues and profits of a water mill in Kilmallock, Co. Lmerick. The mill and
watercourse were taken into the King’s hand because Eustace, Bishop of
Limerick, alienated the property to Philip de Lichfield without obtaining a
royal licence. The annum income of the mill was £2. The mill was restored to
the Bishop by writ dated 22nd September 1333.[124]

From 3rd May
1336 until 10th August 1336 the escheator accounted for £2 3s 3½d
from the issues and profits of a mill, common bakehouse, hundred, extern court,
market tolls and fishery in Co. Limerick. This property was part of the
temporalities of the Bishopric of Limerik and was in the King’s hand by the
death of Eustace, Bishop of Limerick. The annual income was for the property
was £8 0s 2d.[125]

Lismore
bishopric

On the retirement of
Griffin, Bishop of Lismore, the manors of Ardmore, Glasmore, Methallia, New
Ville, Lismore and Frekans were assigned by papal authority for his
maintenance. Later Alan, Bishop of Lismore, got a lease of these manors from
Griffin with the option of re-entry for Griffin in case of Alan’s retirement or
death. In July 1253 the King commanded the justiciar to restore the manors to
Griffin after Alan’s death.[126]

The ongoing
confrontation between the Bishop of Lismore and the Bishop of Waterford for
control of a united diocese created mixed signals as to who owned which
episcopal manor but for us in the twenty-first century the dispute created
pools of information that would not normally be available. See Robert
Simington’s edition of the Co. Waterford Civil
Survey for directional information about the dispute and the manors
concerned.[127]

In July 1253 the King
commanded the justiciar of Ireland to assign to Thomas, Bishop-elect of
Lismore, the temporalities of the see, after confirming the election and
securing the customary oath of fealty.[128]

After the death of
John, Bishop of Lismore, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand
until delivered to Richard Cor, the bishop=elect. This period lasted from the
feast of Pentecost 1279 until 18th November 1280. In that time £438
2s ½d was collected in receipts from the manor of Lismore with its pasture of
the wood, salmon fishery, perquisites of the hundred and marts and further
income from other areas including, Admelan, Artmordeglan, Kilmains, the manor
of Mochyl, Kilbarrymeaden and Moortown, Donaghmore and Ardfinnan with increases
in rent in a few places.[129]

After the death of
Richard Cor, Bishop of Lismore, the temporalities were taken into the King’s
hand from the feast of All Saints 1308 until 14th March 1309 when
they were delivered to Master William le Fleming, bishop-elect. In that time £1
1s 9d was collected from the manors of Lismore, Ardmore, Deglan, de Bello Loo,
Kilbarrymeaden, Mothel and Ardfinnan along with the granges of Moretown and
Douenauchmore. The issues of the fishery of Lismore and Ardmore with other
revenues generated £7 8s in receipts.[130]

In the period 1st
August 1322 until 3rd January 1323 the escheator collected 4s 8d
from the Bishopric of Lismore. Up to 23rd January 1323 the escheator
collected nothing as the temporalities were delivered to John, bishop-elect.[131]

In the time of King
Edward III John, Bishop of Lismore, was a tenant of two thirds of the manor of
Dergard in Co. Waterford for which he owed one mark.[132]
In 1332 John, Bishop of Lismore, was given custody of a messuage and 6 acres of
land at Freghanes, Co. Tipperary, which property was forfeited by William de
Bermingham. The escheator never held the land and said the Bishop was
answerable for the £1 17s 2d annual income. But it was not until 1338 that the
Bishop of Lismore furnished an account of the property to the Exchequer.[133]

Following the union of
the Dioceses of Lismore and Waterford, the property of the Bishop of Lismore
seems to have suffered neglect as the Bishop resided in Waterford city more
often than not. In the sixteenth and seventeenth century the property of the Bishopric
of Lismore was substantially alienated and lost to lay ownership. In September
1660 Joshua Boyle wrote an account of the temporalities of Lismore which were
transcribed by Rev. W.H. Rennison before the original was destroyed in the Four
Courts fire in 1922. This document is an invaluable record and along with other
information can give a detailed picture of the medieval temporalities.[134]

There is another
document of interest to the temporalities of the Bishopric of Lismore that was
made about 1487 by the then bishop, Thomas Purcell. This document, known as the
‘Black Book’ was said to be an official rent roll of the bishopric at that time
with property deeds included. The book was supposed to have been destroyed by
fire at Lismore but according to Charles Smith a copy was seen among the papers
of the Bishop of Clogher bequeathed to Trinity College but its present
whereabouts is unknown.[135]

South transept of Lismore cathedral

Meath
bishopric

In February 1253 the
temporalities of Meath were delivered to master Hugh de Taghmon as the Bishop
of Meath.[136] After the death of
Hugh, Bishop of Meath, the temporalities of Meath were taken into the King’s
hand from before the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (2nd
February) 1282 until the same day one year later. In that year £249 15s 3½d was
collected from the lands of the lordship of the new town of Trim, and Eylagh
along with the demesne lands of Arthbrekan, Richardstown, Clounard, Killeghan,
and Drumert. Income also came from the rents of the gavellars of Neynan and the
lands of Clnter, Drummert, Corbally, the moor of Clonfad, and the lands of
Ballyleghan, Arthath and part of the manor of Deruagh. The second part of
Deruagh was in waste and nobody would take it due to the war with the Irish.[137]

After the death of
Thomas, Bishop of Meath, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand.
Alexander de Bykenoure, Archbishop of Dublin, was given custody of the manor of
Ardbrecan on behalf of the escheator. From 31st January 1321 until
the Purification of Blessed Virgin Mary (2nd February), the
Archbishop collected £23 10s 1d in receipts. Of this amount 40s was deducted
for 80 acres tilled before the death of Bishop Thomas and £21 was allowed to
the Archbishop for good service. From 2nd February 1322 until 23rd
June 1322 when the temporalities were delivered to John, bishop-elect of Meath,
the manor had £11 15s ½d in income.[138]

At the same time of Wednesday before the feast
of the Circumcision (1st January) 1321 until 23rd June
1322 the escheator collected income from elsewhere in the temporalities of
Meath. £9 3s came in rents from the demesne, meadows and pastures of the manors
of Clonard, Killeghan and Newtown near Trim. Income also came from the rents of
farmers, cottiers, free tenants and burgesses, mills, weirs, tollboot of beer,
issues of the hundred court at Newtown. There was also an increment of 140
acres at Scurlagestown in the manor of Newtown near Trim. In total an amount of
£47 9s 2¼d was collected. From this deductions were made of 15s rent for 60
acres of demesne land at Killeghan which was sown in wheat before the death of
Bishop Thomas and 10s rent paid to Thomas de Nugent for 14 acres at
Carpenerestown in the manor of Newtown near Trim. The bishopric’s lands at
Ardcath yielded nothing because they were delivered to Thomas de Warilowe.[139]

Ossory
bishopric

The Red Book of Ossory contains a wide
variety of material such as rentals, statutes, provincial constitutions and
hymns. Although the book is not yet published as detailed calendar was compiled
by H.J. Lawlor in 1908 and published as ‘Calendar of the Liber Ruber of the
diocese of Ossory’, in Proceedings of the
Royal Irish Academy, xxvii (1908-9), C, pp. 159-208. A lost book of Ossory
charters was published by H.F. Berry as ‘Ancient charters in the Liber Albus
Ossoriensis’, in Proceedings of the Royal
Irish Academy, xxvii (1908-9), C, pp. 115-25.[140]

On 25th
March 1233 a mandate was sent to Eustace, chancellor of Chichester and
treasurer of Ireland, to deliver full and free administration of the
temporalities of Ossory to Walter, Bishop-elect, and to have all the receipts
since the time the King granted him custody of the see.[141]

On the death of
Michael, Bishop of Ossory, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand
until delivered to William son of John, bishop-elect. This period lasted from
12th July 1302 until 5th December 1302. In that time, the
escheator collected £112 20¾d in receipts. The manors of Deruach with
Ballyslye, Authechour, Kilken, Outherach, Lough, Inisnak with Kilkee,
Sthachscothyn and Clonmore returned income of 46s 4d from the rent of meadows
and gardens. There was no income from the demesne lands and pastures because
they were tilled before the bishop’s death and nobody would take them in such a
short time. £30 9s 2¼d came from the rents of cottiers, betaghs and gavellers
while £67 10s 5d came from the rents of the free tenants. £11 15s 9½d came from
mills, weirs, gardens, farms, prise of ale, warrens, tolls, perquisites of the
court, etc.[142]

By a writ delivered
into the Exchequer on 17th August 1317 the King granted William,
Bishop of Ossory, the former lands of John de Boneville, a declared felon, at
Tylahorwy.[143]

On the translation of
William, Bishop of Ossory, to the see of Cashel, the temporalities of Ossory
were taken into the King’s hand. But the escheator gathered no income from
their possession as the temporalities were shortly after delivered to Richard,
bishop-elect.[144]

In about 1330 John de
Balygaueran rented one carucate and forty acres from the Bishop of Ossory at
Boly, Co. Kilkenny. On the death of John the escheator took command of the
property on 10th May. But it was seen that an error was made and so
on 8th November custody of the property was given to Richard, Bishop
of Ossory, and the rents and issues were given to him for the intermediate
period and so the escheator answered for nothing.[145]

In addition to the
above information the Representative Church Body Library has a collection of
documents relating to the Bishop of Ossory’s property at Irishtown, Co.
Kilkenny from 1320 onwards (R.C.B. Library, D/11/1/1).[146]

Ross
bishopric

In the papal taxation
of 1302-6 the value of the rent and revenues of the Bishop of Ross was
calculated at 26 marks 10s. In the years 1310-20 Bishop Matthew O'Finn did much to recover and restore the property of the bishopric which was unjustly usurped.[147]

On the death of
Lawrence, Bishop of Ross, the temporalities were taken into the King’s hand.
From 3rd March 1336 to 10th August 1336 the escheator collected
£4 3s 7½d from the temporalities. The annual income was put at £8 7s 2d. By a
writ dated 28th July the temporalities were delivered to master
Denis, bishop-elect.[148]

Rossilydere
bishopric

Is Rossilydere another name for the Diocese of Ross, above - possibly? The crown held this bishopric
from Christmas 1274 to the 14th April in the following year. Only £8
6s 8d in receipts was collected as the greater part of the bishopric was wasted
by the Irish.[149]

Tuam
archbishopric

Following the death of
Thomas, late Archbishop of Tuam, the temporalities were taken into the king’s hand
from Friday after the feast of St. Barnabas (11th June) 1279 until
the same day in 1282. In those three years £409 7s was gathered in receipts.
The income came from the manor of Tuam with the rent of the free tenants of
Monebath, Olomain, Montirmolynna and Schynlamded with further income from the
lands of Taxax near Athenry, with land at Kilmakerell near Athenry held by
Philip Aze and land at Kilmechand, Cong, Moyho and Anachdun.[150]

From 7th
January 1312 until 8th May 1313 the temporalities of the
archbishopric of Tuam were in the King’s hand due to the death of William de
Bermingham, late Archbishop, when they were delivered to the new archbishop,
Malachias McKeth. In that time £8 19s 4d in receipts came from the demesnes lands,
meadows and rents in the manors of Tuam, Moyo, Kilmen and Cong with their
associated lands in Connacht. Other sources of income generated £180 18s 4½d in
receipts. From these incomes the escheator had to deduct £2 14s in rent from
114 acres of demesne land because it was sown before the Archbishop’s death.[151]

Waterford
bishopric

Between the feast of
St. Peter (29th June) and St. Michael (29th September),
1242, the bishopric of Waterford was in the king’s hand and under the
management of Joce the clerk. In that time 57s in income was realised.[152]

From the vigil of the
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1274 to the quindene of the nativity (8th
September) 1275 the crown collected £33 7s 2d in receipts. These came from such
places as Kilcatherac, Kilronan, Kilmaclec, Ballydermot and Ballygomor.[153]

In the papal taxation
of 1302-6 the rent and revenues of the Bishopric of Waterford was valued at £18
and elsewhere it was valued at £22 13s 4d.[154]

After the death of
Matthew, Bishop of Waterford, the temporalities were only briefly held by the
King when they were delivered to the dean and chapter to hold during the
vacancy by a writ delivered to the Exchequer on 18th December 1322.
Therefore the escheator collected no income and left us no idea of what amount
that income could have been.[155]

From 27th
June 1337 until 3rd October 1337 (14 weeks) the escheator collected
£4 14s 3d from the temporalities of the Bishopric of Waterford while in the
King’s hand. This income came from the rent and issues of demesne lands,
meadows, betagh rents, farmers and free tenants. The annual income from these
sources was £9 8s 6d. In addition 10s came from the harvest by the betaghs and
3½d from the profits of the courts (annual amount 1s 2d). The total amount
collected was £5 4s 6½d and from this was deducted 1s 4d from the rent from one
carucates and 24 acres of land sown with seed and fallow since before the death
of Bishop Nicholas (each acre worth 4d yearly).[156]

For later records
relating to the income and property of the Waterford bishopric and the
cathedral there is a rental of Waterford cathedral for 1427 in the National
Library of Ireland (N.L.I., MS D1606).[157]
The Irish Manuscripts Commission recently (2013) published an edition of The Register of St. Saviour’s Chantry of
Waterford, edited by Niall Byrne which gives some financial information of
the late fifteenth century cathedral and of a medieval chantry chapel.

In September 1660
Joshua Boyle wrote an account of the temporalities of Waterford which were
transcribed by Rev. W.H. Rennison. This document is an invaluable record and
along with other information can give a detailed picture of the medieval
temporalities.[158]

The old medieval cathedral at Waterford

Conclusion

The study of Irish
economic history in medieval times is a subject much neglected. In the last few
decades scholars have moved away from the usual political and military history
into the area of economic and social studies. This article has shown the
difficulties of research medieval economic history because of gaps in the
surviving records, the limited reach of the royal government and the time of
the year in which the report was made. If a gale day for paying the rent didn’t
occur when the escheator held the bishopric then the bishopric can appear
poorer than it actually was.

These difficulties also
make it hard to compared each diocese against each other as you cannot be
certain that you are comparing like with like. It is also difficult to compare an Irish bishopric to those in England as conditions were different. The Irish bishop was troubled economically by war and unrest along with the difficulties of working in a land of two nations, Irish and English, and there troubles at living together. Yet it is important to get some
measure of the wealth of a bishopric. Studies in England have shown that it is
the wealth of the bishop that provides the major source of the finances for a
cathedral and where a cathedral is rebuilt such as at Exeter.[161]

In other areas the
study of the bishopric estates may lead to discoveries about Ireland before the
Norman invasion of 1169. It is very possibly that estates owned by the various
bishops were church property for centuries before the Normans and may well have
been church property before the introduction of Christianity.[162]

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About Me

The medieval world seems so far away yet much of what we see and do today comes from that distant world. This blog will feature articles on the medieval world in Ireland and Britain - the Celtic 2 Realms - Hope you enjoy and have fun with all things medieval.